ART

GIVING PEACE A CHANCE The Rubin Museum of Art presents the opening of “Missing Peace: Artists Consider the Dalai Lama,” an exhibit that explores the Dalai Lama’s multiple roles and iconic status through the works of more than 80 contemporary artists from around the world. The exiled Tibetan lama’s work and identity are ad dressed in a range of media, from painting and sculpture to installa tion and video. A selection of paint ings and sculptured works from the museum’s collection, depicting the historical lineage of the Dalai Lama, is included. Through, Mon day, September 3, Monday, 11 a.m.–5 p.m., Wednesday, 11 a.m.–7 p.m., Thursday, 11 a.m.– 5 p.m., Fri day, 11 a.m.–10 p.m., Saturday-Sun day, 11 a.m.–6 p.m., Rubin Museum 150 W. 17th St, between Sixth and Seventh avenues, 212-620-5000 $10 general, $7 students, seniors artists, and museum neighbors, free for children and members. For complete information, go to rmanyc.org

DANCE

SLOWER AND SLOWER New York City Ballet dancer Wendy Whelan and other ballerinas are recorded in performance in hyper-slow mo tion by director David Michalek as part of “Slow Dancing — Motion Portraits of Dancers,” a Works in Progress presentation by the Guggenheim Museum. Ms. Whelan is filmed with a high-speed high-definition camera that takes 1,000 frames a second, providing a visual portrait of the extreme intricacies of a dancer’s artistic expres sion. The director of the Lincoln Center Festival, Nigel Redden moderates a discussion with Ms Whelan and Mr. Michalek. Tonight, 7:30 p.m., Guggenheim Museum, Sackler Center for Arts Education, Peter B. Lewis Theater 1071 Fifth Ave. at 89th Street, 212 423-3587, $24 general, $20 mem bers and seniors, $15 students.

SOMETHING FROM NOTHING Choreographer Tere O’Connor asked eight dance artists to create a new work from nothing — no story no music, no outside source. The result became the Nothing Festival, which intends to create a dialogue on the conflict of making a dance and marketing the work The festival continues with pre mieres by Luciana Achugar, Walter Dundervill, Jon Kinzel, and Susan Rethorst. Wednesday through Sat urday, 7:30 p.m., Dance Theater Workshop, 219 W. 19th St., between Seventh and Eighth avenues, 212 924-0077, $20 general, $12 mem bers.

FESTIVALS

GROWING GREEN The NYC Grows Garden Festival, sponsored by the NYC Parks and Recreation Depart ment and the National Gardening Association, features do-it-your self workshops, such as an urban greening clinic for teenagers led by television host William Moss, garden demonstrations with a television personality for Target, Sean Conway, and butter churning workshops with farmers from Organic Valley. Saturday, 9 a.m.–4 p.m., Union Square Park Plaza, 14th Street and Broadway, free. For more information, call 311.

FILM

A FACE FOR THE SCREEN “An Eve ning With Farley Granger” features a discussion with the actor, who has just released his memoir, “Include Me Out: My Life From Goldwyn to Broadway” (St. Martin’s Press). Mr. Granger is best known for his roles as a high-strung prep school killer in Alfred Hitchcock’s “Rope” (1948) and as a love-struck Austrian officer in Luchino Vis conti’s “Senso” (1954). He is joined in conversation by co-author Robert Calhoun and film historian Foster Hirsch. Tonight, 8 p.m., Film Forum, 209 W. Houston St., between Sixth Avenue and Varick Street, 212-727-8110, free.

FOOD & DRINK

CATALONIAN HEAT La Diada de Sant Jordi, also known as the Day of the Rose or the Day of the Book, is a Catalan holiday celebrated April 23 similar to Valentine’s Day. The main event is the exchange of gifts between sweethearts — historically, men gave their girlfriends and wives roses, and women gave their boyfriends and husbands a book to celebrate the occasion. Lily’s restaurant at the Roger Smith Hotel celebrates the holiday with a performance by the Jon Rekdahl Trio and a wine and tapas dinner. Tonight, 8 p.m., Lily’s at the Roger Smith Hotel, 501 Lexington Ave. at 47th Street, 212-755-1400, $25.

MUSIC

STAGE TUNES “Losses and Reunions” is a performance by singer and songwriter Daniel Zaitchik, who infuses his songs with impressionism and soul influences. Also featured are the Baleen Choir, Mike Davis, and Nathan Tysen. Tonight, 8 p.m., Ars Nova, 511 W. 54th St., between Tenth and Eleventh avenues, 212-868-4444, $15.

CELEBRATING A WRITER Alec Wilder was a prolific and eclectic composer whose music blended jazz, popular song, and classical music in many forms including sonatas, suites, and concerti. The Friends of Alec Wilder, a nonprofit organization, presents a centennial celebration concert to honor the composer. Performers include pianist Bill Mays, vocalist Jackie Cain, and soprano Andrianna Smela. The hosts of the event are writer and critic Rex Reed and tuba performer Harvey Phillips. Sunday, 6:30 p.m., Kaufman Center, Merkin Hall, 129 W. 67th St. at Broadway, 212-501-3330, $25.

POETRY

ISLAND VERSES Poets House celebrates National Poetry Month with “Cuba’s Bard: A Conversation With José Kozer,” a discussion with the Cuban poet about his poetry, politics, and translations of his work. He is joined by the poet and critic Ammiel Alcalay and translator Mark Weiss, who reads English translations of Mr. Kozer’s work. Tomorrow, 7 p.m., Poets House, 72 Spring St., between Crosby and Lafayette streets, second floor, 212-431-7920, $7 general, free for members.

READINGS

THE DIRTY WAR As part of its “Conversations” series, the Dorothy and Lewis B. Cullman Center for Scholars and Writers at the New York Public Library hosts a talk with the author of “The Ministry of Special Cases” (Knopf), Nathan Englander. Mr. Englander discusses his novel about the Jewish community on the eve of Argentina’s 1976 military coup. Kaddish Poznan earns a meager living defacing gravestones of Jewish whores and pimps for children who want to erase their immigrant parents’ names and forget their shameful histories. When the idealistic college-student son of Kaddish and his wife is taken from their home, Kaddish learns what it really means to erase identity, because no one in authority will admit Pato has been arrested. A creator of the “Colbert Report” and a former executive producer of the Comedy Central network’s “The Daily Show,” Ben Karlin, leads the talk. Tomorrow, 7 p.m., NYPL, Fifth Avenue and 42nd Street, 212-868-4444, $15 general, $10 students, seniors, and donors.

ALMOST MIDLIFE CRISIS Claire Messud reads from her novel “The Emperor’s Children” (Knopf ), about three friends who struggle with work and love as they approach their 30s in New York. Ms. Messud reads and discusses her work as part of Hunter College’s Distinguished Writers Series. Tomorrow, 7:30 p.m., Hunter College, Hunter West, Faculty Dining Room, southwest corner of 68th Street and Lexington Avenue, eighth floor, 212-772-4007, free, reservations required.

A HEARTBREAKING FAILURE Open City Magazine and Press and the blog Moistworks.comhost an evening of readings by writers Sam Lipsyte and Jenny Offill. Mr. Lipsyte is the author most recently of “Home Land” (Open City), a comic novel written as a series of strangely baroque, intimate letters to a high school alumni newsletter 20 years after graduation. The author of the letters, the underemployed Lewis Miner, or “Teabag,” eventually reunites with his classmates at a “togethering.” Ms. Offill is a Brooklyn-based writer whose stories have appeared in such literary journals as Story, Gettysburg Review, and the Black Warrior Review. A culture and arts writer, Alex Abramovich, and an editor of Open City, Joanna Yas, are hosts of the event. Wednesday, 7 p.m., KGB Bar 85 E. 4th St., between Second and Third avenues, 212-769-6816, free.

SOIRÉES

LADIES WHO RENOVATE The New York Junior League hosts its 2007 Spring Auction, an evening of cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, dancing, and an auction to benefit the 16th annual Playground Improvement Project at Seward Park, and other charitable activities of the New York Junior League. Seward Park, located on the city’s Lower East Side along the East border of Chinatown. Each year the NYJL and the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation renovate a playground in Manhattan to create a safe, inviting and educational play space for children the community. Cocktail attire is required. Friday, 8 p.m.–midnight, 9:30 p.m. live auction, Capitale 130 Bowery at Grand Street, 212-288-6220, $135-$150 general, $115-$150 NYJL volunteers, email reservations to fundraisers@nyjl.org. For complete information, go to nyjl.org.

TALKS

BY WAY OF COPENHAGEN The American-Scandinavian Foundation presents an evening with a New York City Ballet dancer and School of American Ballet teacher, Nikolaj Hübbe, who speaks about the Bournonville tradition at the Royal Danish Ballet School and how the elements of the Danish style are taught at SAB and NYCB. He illustrates his talk with dance demonstrations. Mr. Hübbe will return to his native Denmark to become director of the Royal Ballet in Copenhagen beginning in 2008. Tonight, 6:30 p.m., Scandinavia House, 58 Park Ave., between 37th and 38th streets, 212-879-9779, $10 general, $8 members.

YOU DON’T BRING ME FLOWERS As part of its ongoing Adventures in the Global Kitchen series, the American Museum of Natural History hosts “The Incredible, Edible Dandelion.” An environmental educator and the author of “The Teeth of the Lion: The Story of the Beloved and Despised Dandelion” (McDonald and Woodward), Anita Sanchez, gives a talk on the natural and cultural history of the dandelion, including its medicinal and mystical uses. Guests are invited to taste dandelion tea, a salad made with dandelions and other wild greens, and a dandelion wine. A question and answer session follows. Tomorrow, 7 p.m., AMNH, 175 Central Park West at 79th Street, 212-769-5100, free with museum admission, $14 suggested donation, $10.50 for students and seniors, $8 for children. For complete information, go to amnh.org.

CHAT WITH THE ARTIST As part of its ArtTalks series, the American Federation of Arts, together with Target, presents artist Matthew Ritchie, who gives the inaugural lecture of the spring season. Mr Ritchie discusses his conceptually driven work, for which he often finds inspiration in philosophy physics, and mythology. The artist was included in Time magazine’s “100 Innovators of the New Millennium,” and although he is often described as a painter, Mr Ritchie works in a variety of me dia, including paper, prints, pro jections, installations, freestand ing sculpture, Web sites, and short stories, which tie his sprawling works together into a narrative structure. A question and answer session and a reception follow. Wednesday, 6:30 p.m., National Arts Club, the Sculpture Court, 15 Gramercy Park South at 20th Street, between Park Avenue and Irving Place, 212-988-7700, $15 general, $10 for AFA members, Na tional Arts Club members, and students. Business casual attire and reservations are required.

AMERICAN ANALYSIS The Richard Gilder Distinguished Lecturer Series at the New-York Historical So ciety presents “Ending Tyranny The History of an Idea,” a lecture with a professor of history at Yale University, John Lewis Gaddis. Mr Gaddis discusses President Bush’s proclamation, made during his second inaugural address, of “ending tyranny in our world,” and how feasible it is to make it an objective for national and international policy in the 21st century. Thursday 6:30 p.m., N-YHS, 170 Central Park West at 77th Street, 212-868-4444 $18 general, $10 students, educa tors, and seniors, $8 members.

THEATER

DEAD AND GONE The Chocolate Factory theater group presents Ken Urban’s “2 Husbands,” based on the right-to-die case of Terri Schiavo who died after lengthy court bat tles between her ex-husband and her parents, who attempted to keep her alive on life support. The play follows one husband who fights a media circus while at tempting to remove his former wife from life support, and another husband who attempts to communicate with his dead wife through spiritual means. “2 Husbands” is directed by Brian Rogers, and fea tured actors include Sheila Lewandowski, Alanna Medlock, and Victor Villar-Hauser. Through Saturday, Thursday–Saturday, 8 p.m. the Chocolate Factory, 5-49 49th Ave. between 5th Street and Hunters Point Avenue, Long Island City Queens, 212-352-3101, $15.

PAINTINGS

DESIGN WORKS “Perfectly Enigmatic” is an exhibit of new paintings by Bart Gulley, which combines his interests in classic American graphic design and modernist architecture. He has exhibited in New York for more than 30 years. Selections include “Enigmatic Resolution” (2007), above. Through Sunday, May 27, Friday–Sunday, 1–6 p.m., Art 101, 101 Grand St., between Berry Street and Wythe Avenue, 718-302-2242, free.

To submit an event for consideration for the Calendar, please wire the particulars to calendar@nysun.com, placing the date of the event in the subject line.